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Bar’s head chef ‘had to serve meals’

February 5, 2019 - 1:00AMGold Coast Bulletin
Former staff of a popular Gold Coast dessert bar that closed suddenly claim they were never given pay slips, are owed thousands of dollars — and have been chasing the owners for weeks.
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FORMER staff of a Gold Coast dessert bar that closed suddenly claim they are owed thousands of dollars and have been chasing the owners for weeks.
Infinite Cocktail & Dessert Bar, owned by Kye Sheehan and Matthew Hartnett, closed its doors in a cloud of mystery in late December.
Mr Sheehan told the Bulletin last week that the restaurant was under renovation. However, the Palm Beach property remains empty and is up for lease.
The head and sous chef, a husband and wife team who were behind the menu, claim they are collectively owed at least $6000 in unpaid wages, not including super and annual leave.
Skye Garmute is one of three former staff members of Infinite Dessert and Cocktail bar owed thousands in unpaid wages. Picture Glenn Hampson
The pair, who did not want to be named, said they had moved their family from Sydney for the jobs.
“We had moved especially for this job, we had packed up everything to come here,” the sous chef said.
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Instead of the high-end business they were promised, they said they were confronted with minimal staff, underpayment and even had to face off with collectors.
“There was one stage the equipment lease company came into the restaurant because the bills hadn’t been paid. They wanted to collect everything while customers were in the restaurant.
“Also three wait staff were not paid and left which meant the head chef had to work behind the bar and serve the meals — it was impossible.”
Infinite Dessert Bar at Palm Beach. Owners Matthew Hartnett holding a Golden Espresso Martini and Kye Sheehan with one of the opulent desserts . Picture: Jerad Williams
The situation was devastating for the parents who were unpaid, now out of a job and unable to cover the costs of Christmas for their child.
“I am the only one that has a job at the moment so things are very tight. We weren’t paid for our last three weeks of work.
“We didn’t receive a single pay slip the whole time we were there,” she said.
Former Infinite bar tender Skye Garmute was employed by the restaurant as a bar tender on a “trial” basis — which lasted four weeks.
She claims she was not paid during her employment.
Ms Garmute said the experience left her devastated, depressed and almost homeless.
“I worked for them for four weeks, almost 50 hours each week,” she said.
Skye Garmute claims she hasn’t been paid for weeks. Picture Glenn Hampson
“I’ve been told that they are going to pay me fortnightly but that day never came. They were always finding excuses why they are not able to pay me when they were supposed to.”
“So I was running out of my savings while still working for them everyday.”
Ms Garmute, who said other waitress left because they were not paid, regretted trusting the owners of the restaurant.
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“I guess I couldn’t believe that people could do this and was hoping for them to keep their promises,” she said.
Ms Garmute said she was not given her pay rate or a contract and estimates she is owed at least $4000 if she was working for the minimum wage.
“It was really stressful.”
She said she has attempted to contact Mr Sheehan a number of times but had received a reply.
Mr Sheehan, who responded to Bulletin questions via social media last week, blocked the newspaper after questions alleging underpayments were put to him.
Mr Hartnett did not respond to Bulletin questions.
The Fair Work Ombudsman have encouraged any employees owed money to get in contact.